I am switching my newsletter to more of a collective communication about Edtech, AI and education at all levels. Please do unsubscribe if this is not of interest to you. But also, please do share if it might be of interest to those around you. I hope that this will become a restorative and safe space for people searching for others who care about tech risks and harms.

It is Fall/Autumn, and a great time to begin collaborative and supportive work on challenging AI in education, and on using tech in positive ways. I usually feel very optimistic at this time of year. I am really determined to bring people together for good. I also recommend Civics of Tech as a great USA based collective, we are trying to do more in the EU too.

There are links below to useful work or resources, many of which you have probably seen. But I hope some might be new and interesting.There does seem to be more movement towards listening to student voice, and limiting use of AI. However, it does seem to centre more around cheating than ethics. But it seems like movement in a positive direction. As always please email with anything that you think should be included in the next newsletter around October 10th.

I take great joy in collective work that challenges careless tech adoption. There is far too little of this work in the UK and EU, so I am trying to create more spaces for people to feel safe speaking up. I don’t think stopping AI adoption is possible or worthwhile. But I do think that we can push for better governance, more understanding of risks and harms. And that work will surely lead to better tech procurement and hopefully less harmful AI and tech in education. AI marking and chatbots for homework help are particular things that I would like to see booted to the trash.

As we get more people involved, we can look at book clubs, webinars or more local collectives.I am happy to help facilitate anything that people are interested in. Or to produce any resources that might be useful to you all. Have a great start to q4 and the new academic year!

I welcome anyone who wants to submit writing or ideas to share so that we can begin to connect with others on similar projects, or in nearby areas. There are a lot of sign ups all across the USA and the EU so far. You can email [email protected] with anything that you would like to be included.

Below are some resources for you to read or use in tech governance arguments…..

(If you are UK based, please consider signing this open letter to the UK government, opposing the roll out of AI chatbot tutors to schools.(shared by the incredible Olivia Guest))

Useful Links:

University of Chicago Social Science dept AI use ban

Paper by Timothy Daly on resisting AI chatbot use in education

University of Chicago Social Science dept AI use ban

MIT Committee Report on AI use

Research on UK government AI policy as “experimental futuring”

AI use statement from Progress in Human Geography

Resisting School AI mania resource guide by Anne Lutz Fernandez

My own edtech governance kit

Watching the Generative AI Hype Bubble Deflate – Ash Center

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23780231241275393 - a wonderful look at how Sociologists have an important place in AI critique. Thanks to Ian Carrillo for his thread on Bluesky about AI resources for this source.

The ASI Race, Explained - by Émile P. Torres

Artificial superintelligence, the Silicon Valley worldview, and the narcissism of small differences. (6,100 words)

https://lecabinetdecuriosites.ca/mediagraphy/ Mediography of AI and Big Tech sources by Marilou Page.

I hope some of these will be useful.Look out for links to a potential November virtual meet up! And remember that you are not alone in wanting equitable, ethical and safe technology.There is always hope. And thank you for your patience as we set this up slowly.

Have a great weekend!

Michelle